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Recent 'Just Chat'
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If you need help, or have questions, comments or suggestions, please post in the Rat-Terrier.com Info and Help forum.
General Moderators:
Lance
Tracey
Training Moderator:
Nora
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Rat-Terrier.com
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 10:43 AM |
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hot place down south.
He was very docile at the shelter, we all thought he'd love to just be in a home for his retirement, to sit in windowsill basking in the sun or perched up high on a cat tree.
No such luck. Everytime I let kitty out of his kennel he runs under the bed. Okay, that would be fine, but he's taken to peeing under the bed. So now he can't be out of his kennel unless i'm holding him so basically it's no better a situation then at the shelter.
Then last night I heard his little bell jingle and he was out from under the bed, (which is really hard to get him out of, have to move all the furniture to move the bed to pull him out), and he's at the sliding glass doors jumping up trying to get out. I pul the curtain back and he turns into this little demon, if anyone has any experience with feral cats that was him, so i could not pick him up and he ran back under the bed and peed.
He's my first foster and I feel like such a failure because I don't think I can keep him.  He's going to have to be in his kennel all the time. He's obviously been an outside only cat his whole life but he's nearly defenseless because he's mising teeth and a lot of his claws are broken, missing, etc.
I am so frustrated and don't know what to do. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated if anyone has dealt with problem kitties before.
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 07/11/2007 10:47 AM |
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| Sorry, I don't know anything about cats. Bless you for trying to help him. |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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DaisysMom
Moderator
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| 07/11/2007 10:49 AM |
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| I've never dealt with this type of situation either. Poor guy. Probably just doesn't understand what's going on. I hope you can come up with a good solution. |
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Tracey - Darlin' Daisy's Mom
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ladyfern
Bratty Ratty
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| 07/11/2007 10:51 AM |
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| Patience is about all I can offer as a suggestion of help. Start feeding it a little bit of tuna on a dish, start out shoving the saucer under the edge of the bed where kitty will have to move out of the comfort zone to get that good smelling fish oil. Then in a couple of days dont put it all the way under the edge. In time, leave it down in the room but not under the bed. Eventually it will begin to trust. Sounds like it's terrified. Poor baby. I wish you luck. Feral kitties are hard to tame unless they are really young. |
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ladyfern & shiloh
If you want the best seat in the house ... move the dog!
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 07/11/2007 10:54 AM |
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First of all, don't feel bad, you aren't a failure! I have dealt with feral cats before and it is a real challenge, to say the least. (Used to volunteer at a cat shelter.) The fact that you can handle him at all puts you ahead of the game.
Is there one room that you could let him in that can be closed off? that way he could be out of the kennel some. Keep his litter box, food, water in there. Don't let the other animals in for a while, just give him space. Spend some time in there with him throughout the day....letting him get to know you. He's a cat so it will take more time than a dog!
I'm no cat expert but I've had them all my life. You're doing a good thing to foster this guy, sounds like he's had a hard time of it. Hang in there! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 11:12 AM |
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Thanks for the feedback, I have always liked every animal, even the difficult ones and I just am finding it harder and harder to LIKE the guy, but hearing you guys say he just needs patience, etc. really helps me feel more optimistic.
I wish I had a room to close him off in but the only one is the bathroom. My house is tiny! One bedroom with an open floor plan (no door just an entryway). It's like a two room studio. Fortunately we live next to a HUGE park so Yogi goes there for exercise but the poor kitty really doesn't have much space, we didn't think he'd need it but we were wrong.
Fiance wants him gone. Now. I don't want to give up yet... I can't have him under the bed because he's ruining the carpet. I guess I will try the bathroom which is fairly decent sized so he can have some space in there while I'm home. He just tries to run out of the bathroom and it's hard to stop him sometimes and he can only be in it in the evening or it will probably be too hot.
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 07/11/2007 11:19 AM |
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That's a hard thing with so little space and your fiance wanting him gone. Are you home during the day or working? If you're home maybe you can let him loose and gradually he will relax BUT it could be a long time - as in days or weeks.
If you feel you need to take him back to the shelter don't be too hard on yourself. With a tiny living space and a fiance that wants him gone - that's a very difficult situation. Maybe the shelter should have chosen another foster for your first time! |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 11:34 AM |
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I'm at work all day, fiance gets home around 1-3 but there's no way he's having anything to do with him... I get home around 5:30. We thought he'd be a good match because Yogi doesn't get along with playful cats that will pounce on him, and he seemed so laid back! I really want to take him back but feel like I should give it at least a couple weeks.
Thanks for your help, I am expecting him to be a normal housecat like the ones I grew up with and need to understand that he's not and not dislike him for it. |
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Russ' Pal
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 07/11/2007 12:53 PM |
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where is the litter box? will it fit under the bed? Once he gets used to your place you could relocate it, but for now I'd try putting it where he has shown a preference for going. Maybe put some sheet plastic or old shower curtain on the rug under the bed. You can't really rush cats into accepting a new place- he'll come out on his own terms.
Did you set him in the litter box and hold his paws and show him how to "dig"? If he really is used to only outdoors you might need to give him a little demonstration. |
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-Sarah, pal to Russ & Peca |
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NellBell25
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 1:42 PM |
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He really can't stay under the bed, because I can't leave Yogi and him out alone together unsupervised, I don't know what Yogi would do if he came out form under there and started jumping at the door. I'm going to talk to the shelter and tell them the situation, that he's going to be kenneled for awhile if he stays with me until he starts using his litter box, if they say that's okay then I'll keep him and put him in the bathroom at night when it's cooler so he has more room and he can come out and sit on my lap when I am home. If they don't think that's okay then they'll have to take him back...
I think you guys are right, he's terrified, I am trying to give him some leniency for that, the one thing I've never dealt with is potty training issues, I know I lucked out! Yogi has never had a single accident since we got him. But cat pee is worse, I cleaned and cleaned and can still smell it and I cannot afford to replace carpet upon move out or have a bad rental history since my credit already stinks.
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nycmom
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 1:44 PM |
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Do not beat yourself up. Some animals are extremely difficult; they are not unlike humans, with different personalities.
The peeing thing, would get old for me, because cat urine is not for the faint of heart. It's close to impossible to get the stench out.
More importantly, there is nothing worse than a cat attack (been there done that).
This cat may have been abused, or just feels utterly threatened in his new surroundings.
Try giving him some special treats in his crate, but not with your hand.
Then if he seems to warm up, try giving him a few treats with your hand, but look for signs that he's threatened (ears going back, slow rise in back, hair standing, etc).
I feel for you, because I have had myself in a few sticky situations with cats and it's no fun. |
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nycmom
Ratastic
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| 07/11/2007 1:46 PM |
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Also...arm yourself with a water bottle. As you know, cats are not particularly fond of water, particularly when it's being squirted at them.
If doesn't come out from underneath the bed, perhaps a squirt of water may entice him. |
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Mitzy's Mom
PAWesome
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| 07/11/2007 1:47 PM |
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| Yeah, cat urine is BAD. Also, I let a feral cat in my house once in Monterey....OMG he ran up walls, ripped out curtains, it was exactly like a wild animals getting the house. Cats are way different than dogs. |
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Mary Beth, mom to the Lollipop Kids
Georgia Foster Mom, www.newrattitude.org
Pics of my current fosters:
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/caradoc
http://imageevent.com/newrattitude/fiona
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